New Album “Aftershock” Hitting Stores on October 22, 2013 via UDR Music

MOTÖRHEAD – Aftershock

“Just finished listening to “Aftershock”. It’s incredible… they never fail to deliver! If you love Rock and Roll, you must get this album!!!” – Triple H, 13-time World Champion and Chief Operating Officer of WWE

“The new MOTÖRHEAD album ‘Aftershock’ is so ridiculously good. If you don’t buy it Lemmy will personally come to your house & defile your sister!” – Don Jamieson “That Metal Show”

“All [Lemmy] and his mates have done is put together one of their best albums in the last 20 years.” – MSN.com

Today, Rolling Stone brings you the stunning and fast-paced new music video for the new MOTÖRHEAD track ‘Heartbreaker’. The video is produced by EPIGRAPHICS and features animated sketch art drawn by the man himself, Lemmy Kilmister. The video also features special live footage taken at several of the band’s recent top performances at the Metal Hammer Golden Gods, Wacked Open Air, Rock In Rio, and more. Watch the video now via Rolling Stone at this location.

Yahoo Music began streaming Aftershock exclusively this week. Take a listen at this link.

Aftershock hits stores on October 22nd via UDR Music. You can pre-order the next chapter of MOTÖRHEAD’s legendary catalog now in Limited Edition Digipack format via Amazon.com at this link. The album is also available for pre-order now in regular CD format and vinyl (gatefold – 180-Gram Single LP) format (digital coming soon).

Recorded at NRG Studios in North Hollywood, Aftershock is yet another perfect MOTÖRHEAD record, boasting 14 riff-monsters, placing MOTÖRHEAD in perhaps their best writing form for years.

MOTÖRHEAD’s official listening party is happening TONIGHT at the world-famous Rainbow Bar & Grill located at 9015 Sunset Blvd. in West Hollywood. The event is happening from 9:00-11:00 PM, upstairs. Come listen to the brand new MOTÖRHEAD album, enjoy free Rainbow Pizza and win MOTÖRHEAD prizes! The first 100 MOTÖRHEAD fans get in free!

All of the bands involved in the Noisecreep.com ‘Most Anticipated Release of October’ Poll were great sports, but MOTÖRHEAD’s Aftershock came out on top! Thanks to all who voted.

Official “AFTERSHOCK” Listening Party @ Rainbow Bar & Grill – THIS FRIDAY, October 18 from 9-11PM

New Album “Aftershock” Hitting Stores on October 22, 2013 via UDR Music

#3 on the Amazon Top Hard Rock/Metal Chart this Week!

“Just finished listening to “Aftershock”. It’s incredible… they never fail to deliver! If you love Rock and Roll, you must get this album!!!” – Triple H, 13-time World Champion and Chief Operating Officer of WWE

“All [Lemmy] and his mates have done is put together one of their best albums in the last 20 years.” – MSN.com

It might not be October 22nd yet, but the wait is over. MOTÖRHEAD graces their fans with an early full-album debut of their upcoming 21st studio album, Aftershock! Take a listen now, exclusively via Yahoo Music at this link.

Bassist Phil Campbell offers his personal insight, “This record is hard as nails… gonna fry your brains… and put you into AFTERSHOCK!”

You can pre-order the next chapter of MOTÖRHEAD’s legendary catalog now in Limited Edition Digipack format via Amazon.com at this link. The album is also available for pre-order now in regular CD format and vinyl (gatefold – 180-Gram Single LP) format (digital coming soon).

Recorded at NRG Studios in North Hollywood, Aftershock is yet another perfect MOTÖRHEAD record, boasting 14 riff-monsters, placing MOTÖRHEAD in perhaps their best writing form for years.

MOTÖRHEAD recently announced their upcoming official listening party, taking place at the world-famous Rainbow Bar & Grill located at 9015 Sunset Blvd. in West Hollywood. The event is taking place on Friday, October 18th from 9:00-11:00 PM, upstairs. Come listen to the brand new MOTÖRHEAD album Aftershock before it’s released on October 22nd, enjoy free Rainbow Pizza and win MOTÖRHEAD prizes! The first 100 MOTÖRHEAD fans get in free!

All of the bands involved in the Noisecreep.com ‘Most Anticipated Release of October’ Poll were great sports, but MOTÖRHEAD’s Aftershock came out on top! Thanks to all who voted.

The North American pre-order for MOTÖRHEAD’sAftershock is live! That’s right, you can pre-order the next chapter of MOTÖRHEAD’s legendary catalog now in Limited Edition Digipack format via Amazon.com at this link. The album is also available now in regular CD format and vinyl (gatefold – 180-Gram Single LP) format (digital coming soon). Since the pre-order launch yesterday, Aftershock has already shot to #1 on Amazon’s Movers & Shakers chart and #3 on Amazon’s Hard Rock & Metal chart.Aftershock,MOTÖRHEAD’s mammoth 21st studio album, hits stores in North America on October 22, 2013 via UDR Music. Recorded at NRG Studios in North Hollywood, Aftershock is a true leveler, a crushing confirmation of everything MOTÖRHEAD stands for, marching from the dust storm to deliver 14 belting statements which see MOTÖRHEAD in perhaps their best writing form for years.

The North American pre-order for MOTÖRHEAD’s Aftershock is live! That’s right, you can pre-order the next chapter of MOTÖRHEAD’s legendary catalog now in Limited Edition Digipack format via Amazon.com at this link. The album is also available now in regular CD format and vinyl (gatefold – 180-Gram Single LP) format (digital coming soon). Since the pre-order launch yesterday, Aftershock has already shot to #1 on Amazon’s Movers & Shakers chart and #3 on Amazon’s Hard Rock & Metal chart.

Aftershock, MOTÖRHEAD’s mammoth 21st studio album, hits stores in North America on October 22, 2013 via UDR Music. Recorded at NRG Studios in North Hollywood, Aftershock is a true leveler, a crushing confirmation of everything MOTÖRHEAD stands for, marching from the dust storm to deliver 14 belting statements which see MOTÖRHEAD in perhaps their best writing form for years.

Aftershock track listing:

Heartbreaker
Coup de Grace
Lost Woman Blues
End Of Time
Do You Believe
Death Machine
Dust And Glass
Going To Mexico
Silence When You Speak To Me
Crying Shame
Queen Of The Damned
Knife
Keep Your Powder Dry
Paralyzed

That genre, more than ever, resonates with hearty independence and swashbuckle. Whether it’s “Heartbreaker” throwing hooks and riffs into your head, the double-kick concussiveness of “Paralyzed” with Campbell’s fuelled attack, or the thunderous ride-off-the-Rickenbacker Motörcharge of “Going To Mexico”, Aftershock takes gleeful twists and turns which re-announce the Motörlegend. There’s the smoky biker bar blues in the shape of “Dust And Glass”, Lemmy’s late-night vocals evoking last-call and melancholy, the pogo-powered punk-spiked stab of “Queen Of The Damned” and the deliciously steamy, humid mournful “Lost Woman Blues” which midway through decides to kick over the stool and stomp out the saloon door.

MOTÖRHEAD are MOTÖRHEAD are MOTÖRHEAD…and their Aftershock will be felt worldwide…

Like the juggernaut you prayed would keep on crushing you, like the friend that still royally pisses off your parents and like a loyal standard of crunchy, greasy, punky, bluesy, gutsy screw-you rock’n’roll, MOTÖRHEAD stride out through their 38th year brandishing more swagger and attitude then your ears could begin to comprehend. Read the rest of this entry »

Guitarist SLASH (ex-GUNS N’ ROSES) has posted the following message via Twitter: “Visited Lemmy (Kilmister, MOTÖRHEAD) today; he’s doing well. There’s been a lot of rumors. But he’s in good shape and finishing Motörhead record now.”

As reported by Bravewords.com:Lemmy walked offstage on August 2nd six songs into the band’s set at the famous Wacken Open Air being held in Wacken, Germany, due to health reasons.

A band statement reads: “The show had to go on because that’s how Lemmy rolls. Even though he was not 100% fit, he refused to feel he was letting the 85,000 Wacken fans down. They kicked ass in the 100-plus degree heat for a shortened, but powerful, set before, Lemmy finally realized he might have bitten off a little more than he could chew. Thus he will embark upon the recuperation recommended. We know that rumors are flying around, but once he fully recharges, Motörhead will be back, don’t you worry!”

Pro-shot footage of the band’s W:O:A set can be seen below:

Lemmy’s departure from the stage was disturbing given the fact that the legendary three-piece had cancelled all of their summer shows due to their frontman’s ongoing health issues; in June doctors ordered Lemmy off the road to recover from a hematoma he suffered that month. According to BraveWords staff who were at the scene, on-stage he even referenced the doctors orders saying that he had to quit, but responded ‘We’ll have to see about that.”

With tongue-in-cheek, Motörhead kicked-off their set in front of nearly 100,000 people with ‘I Know How To Die’, but witnesses – including BraveWords who were backstage – saw that the legendary frontman was not in his usual form. The band stormed on with ‘Damage Case’, ‘Stay Clean’, but the set was cut short during their classic ‘The Chase Is Better Than The Catch’ as Lemmy walked off stage and Phil Campbell took charge until everything went black.

Wacken organizer Thomas Jensen walked on stage and told the crowd (translated from German) … “Lemmy had cancelled all his dates and tried to do Wacken, but this is all he could do.”

The Wacken crew have since issued the following statement: “Motörhead rocked the Black Stage for more than 30 minutes and Lemmy gave everything he´s got to play an amazing live show. He´s keeping well – but the temperatures and circumstances lead to the point that continuing the show would have lead to a loss of quality. We are very happy and proud that Phil, Mikkey and particularly Mr. Rock n Roll himself, Lemmy Kilmister, played W:O:A 2013 and that they did everything humanly possible to play this gig. Thank you so much, guys!”

Motörhead were scheduled to perform for an hour and fifteen minutes. After Jensen’s announcement the crowd starting chanting “Lemmy, Lemmy, Lemmy.”

The crowd was not upset or disappointed, but concerned for one of the godfathers of heavy metal.

DORO PESCH followed kicking off her 30th Anniversary tour, but made a point in stating to the crowd that “Lemmy was ok.”

Download Festival 2013

@ Donington Park, UK

June 13th-15th

Review by Anna Dumpe

Download Festival is known as one of the most exciting rock/metal festivals all over the world. It’s usually one of the first events to kick off the festival season and it never disappoints. For eleven years in a row, Download has booked some of the biggest names in rock and metal music scene and 2013 was no different. Three acts to headline the Download weekend of June 13th-15th included Slipknot, Iron Maiden and Rammstein. However, many other bands appeared on five different stages across the weekend and we were there to catch as many of them as possible. So we offer you to read about our Download 2013 adventures and see what you missed out on, if you weren’t there.

FRIDAY

The excitement that kicks in once you arrive to the arena is inconceivable. You see first bands hitting the stage and thousands of heavy metal fans arriving and gathering together. The sun is shining and beer is flowing signalizing the beginning of one of the most exciting weekends of the year.

We’re at Download 2013. This is happening…

Download 2013

The first band we get to catch when arriving to the arena is Asking Alexandria.While the legendary Uriah Heep are performing on the Second (The Zippo Encore) stage. It’s an easy decision, so we quickly pass the Main stage to kick off our Download 2013 with some good old “Easy Livin’”.

Uriah Heep put on a great show and it’s a pleasure to be watching such a classic band still going strong. They’re still sounding tight and perform some of their greatest tunes they’ve ever written, like “Sunrise,” “Gypsy,” “Look at yourself” and, obviously, “Easy Livin’”.

After a great set by Uriah Heep, we head back to the Main Stage to see Papa Roach.
We wonder if there are still people out there that genuinely love this band, taking that their streak of luck happened quite a while ago. About a minute later our question is answered when we’re nearly swept off our feet by thousands of Papa Roach fans, running head over heels, just to fight their way through the crowd and get to the front of the stage. True story, ladies and gent. It was crazy.

Papa Roach set is everything you’d expect from it. It’s energetic, fun and a bit ridiculous when singer Jacoby Shaddix jumps off the stage to dive in the mud. …but that’s what you do when you’re at Download Festival, right?

Not everyone’s a fan of this band, but trust us on this one. When it comes to hits like “Between Angels and Insects,” “Scars” and “Last Resort,” not a single person in the audience is able to stand still.

After a good shot of energy delivered by Papa Roach, we head over to The Pepsi Max Stage to witness The Sword blast out some epic riffs in the best retro-metal manner. Coming all the way from Austin, Texas to perform material off their new album ‘Apocryphon’ and throw in some good old classics, like “Freya,” The Sword guys prove themselves as a great bunch of professionals that manage to sound live as great as they sound on the record.

Back to the Main Stage and it’s time to see Down.
Phil Anselmo and the boys have chosen to perform a great selection of tunes turning their set into an absolutely ripping performance. Songs like “Witchtripper,” “Lifer,” “Ghosts Along the Mississippi,” “Stone The Crow” and “Bury Me In Smoke” go down exceptionally well.

Best comments in-between songs and the funniest facial expressions delivered by the one and only Mr. Phil Anselmo; there is no stage too big for that man.

Next up on the main stage are Korn with a thrilling and rather challenging set, as they mix all the well-known classics with some fresh material off their latest album The Path Of Totality. Dub step inspired tracks, like “Narcissistic Cannibal” and “Get Up!” go down surprisingly well and the audience seems to be having a blast.

Songs like “Falling Away From Me,” “Coming Undone”, “Did My Time” and “Freak On A Leash” are sounding as powerful as ever and takes us on a sentimental trip back to the 1990’s when nu-metal and dreadlocks ruled the charts and were a part of every teenager’s life.

Next up on the Main Stage are Bullet For My Valentine.
Apologies to all their fans, but no, thank you.

We leave the Main stage to catch the upcoming and in-every-aspect-awesome-and-mind-blowing French trio The Algorithm. They’re on at The Red Bull Studios Stage and deliver a killer of a set. Songs like “Trojans” and “Access Granted” are the right party anthems to officially kick off this Friday night. As amusing it might seem to see hundreds of metal heads bounce around to electronic music mixed with proper metal breakdowns, it’s also incredibly satisfying to see so many people that seek variety in heavy metal genre and are here to support upcoming artists, like The Algorithm.

Just before it’s time to head to the Main stage for tonight’s headliners, we wander off to the Second Stage and catch a bit of Gogol Bordello’s on-stage shenanigans.

Download 2013

Bringing a full band of eight people with him, he puts on a show that’s as entertaining as hectic and chaotic. There’s a mad party happening on-stage and within the audience, as the band performs hits like “Wonderlust King,” “Break The Spell” and “Start Wearing Purple”.

Gogol Bordello is a gypsy punk band you must see if you’re familiar with or a fan of Eastern European and Russian culture, as hearing their music will make you want to down vodka, dance a little stupid and swear in Russian. What a band..!

After a nice day of watching lots of great bands and drinking beer with your mates, it seems that it doesn’t get any better than this, but just because we’re at Download, it does, in fact, get a lot better.

It’s Friday night at Download 2013 and 90’000 people are here in Donington Park to witness Slipknot headline the Main stage for the first time since 2009. The crowd is buzzing with excitement, as we prepare to be blown away by their performance.

Download 2013

Slipknot take the stage with an incredible amount of energy and they manage to own the crowd within seconds.
Opening their set with “Disasterpiece,” Slipknot manage to shake the grounds of Donington like a thunderstorm. Blasting out a hit after hit, they seem to have managed to put together a set list to please any kind of Slipknot fan. Classics like “Wait and Bleed,” “Dead Memories,” “Sulfur,” “Psychosocial” and “Duality”, which is dedicated to Paul Gray, really make the crowd go nuts.

There’s mosh-pits, circle-pits, crowd surfing and random human bodies flying around the place. The performance is stopped twice during songs “Before I Forget” and “Left Behind”, as the safety barrier in front of the stage collapses twice. It’s an absolute madness, but it’s also the best fun we’ve had in a long time.

The band appear to be in a great shape and are sounding superb. Corey Taylor’s vocal parts are sounding immense and Joey Jordison’s drumming is, as always, spectacular and a real entertainment to watch. Shawn ‘Clown’ Crahan is a great entertainer, as she smacks the hell out of his percussions while spinning up in the air.

After finishing their set with “Spit it Out,” Slipknot return to stage for an encore of “(sic),” “People = Shit” and “Surfacing”.
The band really put their heart and soul into this performance and you would struggle to find a single member of the audience that was left unsatisfied.

Motörhead deeply regret to disappoint all fans this summer. The band decided to cancel the summer shows.

Doctor’s strongly advised that Lemmy needs to take his time to get his body back in balance. To achieve this, the doctor and Lemmy agreed that it would be best to take it easy for a while. While saying this we can assure that the fall tour will be as explosive, loud and incredible as ever.

Lemmy says: “I’d like to thank everyone who wish me well, it was a tough decision for me as I don’t like to disappoint the fans especially in times where the economy is bad and people spent their money to see us. But sometimes you can’t do anything else than follow doctor’s order but be sure we will be back and kick everybody’s ass.”

The doctor’s recommendation is that frontman Lemmy Kilmister be given more time to recover from a hematoma as well as the insertion of a heart defibrillator that he reportedly went through last month.

Motorhead drummer Mikkey Dee told the Swedish newspaper GT.se that Lemmy’s condition is improving but also said, “The doctors in Berlin are recommending that he rests for another couple of weeks. We can’t keep canceling show after show, it’s too costly. Therefore we unfortunately have to cancel the entire tour.”

“Everything started with him falling and getting a nasty blow to his hip a little over a week ago,” Dee told the Swedish newspaper. Following that fall, Lemmy further injured himself when a fire alarm went off at the hotel Royal Kensington in London where he was staying.

“He had to walk eight stairs in the middle of the night,” Mikkey said. “Lemmy’s personal assistant said that that was fucked up and that he had an injured hip.”

Dee was a little hesitant when it came to talking about the actual state of Lemmy’s health, referring to a “soon-to-be-issued press release that will offer more information.” But he said that a “snowball effect” had a negative impact on Lemmy’s physical condition.

“He needs to have his body drained of fluid and that can’t be done too quickly,” he said. “When he remains in bed and can’t move, he can easily get pnemonia…. If you can’t move properly, other issues will follow. He is devastated beyond belief. It has a bigger effect on him than it would anyone else. It’s like chopping off a piano player’s hands. This is his life.”

Asked if he is worried about his friend Lemmy, Dee said: “I am worried because he’s not doing so well right now. But he’s improving, even though it takes longer for him than anyone else to become well. Now that the doctors feel that he shouldn’t go out an play you’ll just have to accept that order.”

Motorhead have yet to confirm reports regarding either the hematoma or the defibrillator Lemmy apparently obtained recently to assist with an undisclosed heart problem, declaring only that the legendary singer and bassist underwent a “Motor-pit-stop for some medical maintenance this past spring.”

When asked if he had a message for fans planning to attend the shows, which were scheduled to run through Aug. 4 in Belgium, Dee responded, “We’re really sorry. But we’re not canceling because of a cold and this is something we’ve put a lot of thought into.” He seemed particularly sad about having to cancel a July 4 show in his hometown of Gothenburg, Sweden: “It’s so f—ing typical, but what are you going to do? You have to put health before everything else.”

Motorhead / Anthrax / Diaries of a Hero

@ O2 Academy Brixton

17th November 2012

Review by Anna Dumpe

One of the most anticipated tours of the year rolled into town as Anthrax and Motorhead make an appearance to O2 Academy Brixton to play a sold-out show. There have been talks previous to tonight about how ‘No Rock, Metal music fan can miss tonight’s performance’! Have been circulating since April and created a mass-excitement in the world heavy metal.

So we were sure not to miss tonight and to experience the loudest Rock’n’Roll show of the year and damage our hearing without a care in the world!Read the rest of this entry »

UDR/EMI has confirmed an October 22nd North American release date for MOTÖRHEAD’s The Wörld Is Ours – Vol 2: Anyplace Crazy As Anywhere Else. The follow-up to it’s sibling Everywhere Further Than Everyplace Else, features the band’s 2011 Wacken headline appearance as well as highlights from Sonisphere UK 2011 and Rock In Rio Brazil 2011.

Check out a clip of the classic ‘Iron Fist’ below:

The Wörld Is Ours – Vol 2 will be available as a digi pack (DVD plus two CDs), double-CD, double-vinyl (Wacken show), blu-ray and direct-to-consumer version featuring 2 CDs, a DVD/blu-ray and a special booklet.

Check out an official EPK (electronic press kit) below:

The Wörld Is Ours – Vol 2 tracklisting:

Wacken Open Air – August 8th, 2011

‘Iron Fist’

‘Stay Clean’

‘Get Back In Line’

‘Metropolis’

‘Over the Top’

‘Rock Out’

‘One Night Stand’

‘The Thousand Names of God’

‘I Know How to Die’

‘The Chase Is Better Than the Catch’

‘In the Name of Tragedy’

‘Just ‘Cos You Got the Power’

‘Going to Brazil’

‘Killed by Death’

‘Bomber’

‘Ace of Spades’

‘Overkill’

Sonisphere UK – July 10th, 2011

‘Iron Fist’

‘I Know How to Die’

”In the Name of Tragedy’

‘Killed by Death’

‘Ace of Spades’

‘Overkill’

Rock In Rio Brazil – September 25th, 2011

‘Stay Clean’

‘Over the Top’

‘The Chase Is Better Than the Catch’

‘Going to Brazil’

‘Killed by Death’

Bonus material: festival impression W:O:A

Check out previous previews of ‘Ace Of Spades’, ‘Bomber’, ‘Get Back In Line’ and ‘Going To Brazil’ below:

On September 24th, 2012 the loudest, most real and raucous rock’n’roll Grammy-winning band in the world, Motörhead, will release “The Wörld Is Ours – Vol 2 – Anyplace Crazy As Anywhere Else”, the follow-up to 2011’s “The Wörld Is Ours – Vol 1 – Everywhere Further Than Everyplace Else”.

Like it’s sibling, Anyplace Crazy… will come packed with more magnificent Motörmaterial from “The Wörld Is Yours” tour, including the triumphant 2011 Wacken headline appearance as well as highlights from the Sonisphere and Rio shows.

Motorhead

Release Dates: U K: September 24th, 2012
The band will commence with their 2012 European Tour on November 5th in Wolverhampton, UK, ending on December 11th in Kempten, supported by Anthrax.

Formats:

* digipak – DVD + 2 CDs

* a double-disc CD only

* a double-vinyl gatefold sleeved version (W:O:A concert)

* a blu-ray version

* a direct-to-consumer box featuring 2 CDs, a DVD, Blu-ray and a special booklet featuring exclusive on and offstage photography

Slayer / Motorhead / Anthrax

Mayhem Festival, Toyota Pavilion

Scranton, PA

August 4, 2012

Review & photos by Infamousbutcher

Mayhem is a US metal festival sponsored by Rockstar Energy Drink that has been around since 2008. It usually has a mix of current popular bands and some classic ones. One of the good things about Mayhem is that it always books large venues that are nearby for me, like Toyota Pavilion in Scranton, Susquehanna Bank Center in Camden, and PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel. If there are bands playing that I love, I can hit multiple shows. This year’s version has metal heavyweights Slayer, Motorhead, and Anthrax, which are 3 of my all-time favorite bands. Therefore, in addition to this show in Scranton, I caught the Camden one the week before as well. Today marks my 12th Motorhead show, 9th Anthrax show, and 5th Slayer show and I intend to keep adding to those totals!Read the rest of this entry »

The nearly forty-year career of the epic heavy music band Motörhead is chronicled in an amazing and collectable book, MOTÖRHEAD: LIVE TO WIN by Alan Burridge (Cleopatra, August 28).

LIVE TO WIN is the full, in-depth Motörhead story, with previously unpublished, revealing facts, rare and early photos, and is fully approved and endorsed by Lemmy (who also contributes to the introduction).

Motörhead formed in England in 1975 by bassist/singer/songwriter Lemmy Kilmister, and was an early part of the NWOBHM, the movement to reinvigorate loud music. With a big dose of punk, Motörhead’s sound pioneered speed metal, and continues with consistency to support, elevate, and encourage the genre around the world. The band has sold more than 30 million albums worldwide, and just finished a North American tour.

The book starts in those early days in the 1970s, when the rocky start and personal struggles of the band threatened to keep it on the ground. But with Lemmy’s focus and gutsy determination, the late part of the decade showed success in the UK. The Motörhead world domination of the 1980s and 1990s, including the release of ACES OF SPADES, BASTARDS and more, is chronicled with stories from nearly twenty years of heavy touring with everyone from Dio to Ozzy. The book concludes present day, with Lemmy cemented as a rock icon beside long-time bandmates Phil Campbell and Mikkey Dee, and still driving that Motörhead train in music history.

Alan Burridge (also known as Professor Motörhead) is the official biographer of Motörhead. He started a fanzine for the band in 1980, which became the band’s endorsed fan magazine, Motörheadbangers. He has written numerous articles, interviews, reviews, and liner notes about the band, as well as more than two dozen other fiction and nonfiction books.

MOTÖRHEAD: LIVE TO WIN will be available in stores and at online retailers for MSRP $36.98. The book is 220 full-color glossy pages with shiny silver trim, and includes a collectible full-color bookmark. The cover features a gorgeous red and silver foil logo on black leatherette.

SWEDENROCK 2012

“We Are The Saints Of Los Angeles” – screamed Vince Neil into the mic when Motley Crue headlined the last day of the Swedenrock fest. Well, once again the Finnish Metal-Rules.com team made their annual roadtrip to Swedenrock. Metal Rules has covered Swedenrock since 2001, therefore it is quite logical to cover the festival again. The 2012 line up presented a wide range of metal and hard rock. Over 70 metal and rock bands offered one hell of an experience for attendees. Sweden Rock has been successful during the past ten years as the festival has always been sold out. This year wasn’t any exception as the fest was sold out despite the lousy economic situation worldwide. It has become quite logical for us to give an in depth article of several bands performing at Sweden Rock to all the readers out there. The weather once again showed positive and negative sides. It either rained, or was windy, or quite warm. But we were there for bands, not for having some beach party crap. Unfortunately, we are not able to cover every bloody band, but hopefully you will have a pleasant reading experience… Rock on!

THURSDAY

EXCITER

The legendary Canadian metallers Exciter is considered as a pioneer of thrash/speed metal because their albums were some of the very first in that genre. Years have passed by since those early days as the current line-up consists of the only one surviving original member in the ranks – John Ricci. However, the band still enjoys a true cult following. That could be testified when a couple of thousand people had crawled to witness the Canadian heavy metal maniacs in action. The four piece delivered a good deal of both old material and newer material in their set. Songs such as “Long Live Loud”,”Heavy Metal Maniac”,”Pounding Metal” and of course a few newer songs for example “Aggressor”,”Evil Omen” belonged to the one hour setlist. The current vocalist Kenny “The Mouth” Winter is capable of reaching the upper registers with his singing; John Ricci hasn’t given up his style an inch, just relying on spikes and leather, the bassist looked like a monster on stage. Frankly, Exciter sounded like true pounding Canadian metal.

Aggressor

I Am the Beast

The Dark Command

Victims of Sacrifice

Heavy Metal Maniac

Evil Omen

Rising of the Dead

Stand Up And Fight

Pounding Metal

Slaughtered in Vain

Rain of Terror

Long Live the Loud

Violence & Force

LITTLE ANGELS

The re-united British hard rockers Little Angels were one of the first performers on Thursday and because of a traffic jam, when we finally reached the venue, the band had already played almost half of their set. The band has now managed to put together the classic line up: Bruce John Dickinson on guitar, Jimmy Dickinson on keys, Mark Plunkett on bass, drummer Mark Richardson on drums an vocalist Toby Jebson who’s also fronting the current incarnation of Fastway. The Little Angels set consisted of material from their entire career and included their best known songs like: “Don’t Prey for Me” and “Young Gods” which was a final encore for the show. All in all, this was an entertaining performance and the guys clearly enjoyed being back on stage together. Hopefully these few booked shows will lead the band into a full-time reunion in the future?

She’s a Little Angel

Kickin’ Up Dust

Boneyard

Radical Your Lover

The Way That I Live

Don’t Pray for Me

Too Much Too Young

Young Gods

EXODUS

Gary Holt was once again recruited to handle the guitarist duties to Slayer so some definitely wondered if Exodus would be forced to cancel the European tour again. The most unexpected thing came about when the former guitarist Rick Hunolt stepped in to stand up for Gary Holt on the European dates. At least Hunolt blew the whole stage up with his restless and wild performance, leaving the other guys to gasp for air. Whereas Lee Altus and Jack Gibson mostly remained in one spot on at the stage, focusing on playing and head banging. The frontman Rob Dukes kept encouraging the flegnmatic Swedish audience to arrange some kind of havoc. He did succeed in the near impossible task when a small circle pit started out in the audience. The setlist was pure Exodus as consisted of classic songs and newer material for example “Black List”, “And There Were None”, “The Ballad of Leonard And Charles”, “Toxic Waltz” and a number of other classics. Exodus was in the fire – Does Exodus need Gary Holt on the stage anymore..hmm ?

NIGHT RANGER

Night Ranger debut time at Swedenrock! It finally happened after almost 15 years of trying by the Swedenrock organization. And the band did not disappoint. Playing all their biggest hits and anthems, a couple of new ones from their latest effort SOMEWHERE IN CALIFORNIA and a few ‘covers’ by bands the respective band members has been in; Jack Blades in Damn Yankees – ‘Coming of Age’ and ‘High Enough’ and Brad Gillis in Ozzy Osbourne’s band – ‘Crazy Train’ ! More highlights being ‘(You Can Still) Rock In America’ with the one and only Dee Snider guesting and the Kelly Keagy sung ’Sister Christian’, perhaps the biggest hit of Night Ranger.

Lay It On Me

Sing Me Away

Seven Wishes

Coming of Age

Rumours

Crazy Train

Growing Up in California

The Secret of My Success

Eddie’s Comin’ Out Tonight

High Enough

Touch of Madness

When You Close Your Eyes

(You Can Still) Rock In America

Sister Christian

Don’t Tell Me You Love Me

ST. VITUS

The current doom metal boom has brought several old names back on the map. For example, the mighty Saint Vitus rose from the world beyond and released a new album earlier this year. Therefore the four piece has been booked by several European metal festivals. As for the Swedenrock festival, playing under the bright sun during the day light isn’t the most perfect timing and environment for a band like Saint Vitus. Of course, doom metal rolled and ruled, but this sort of dismal doom metal needs a darkened club with the smokey atmosphere, not massive open-air festival. However, the legendary St. Vitus sounded doomy, but otherwise a bit boring.

Blessed Night

I Bleed Black

Clear Windowpane

Let Them Fall

The Bleeding Ground

Look Behind You

The Waste of Time

Mystic Lady

Dying Inside

Born Too Late

STEEL PANTHER

U.S. glam metalers / 80’s parody band Steel Panther made their second appearance at Swedenrock. It looks like there’s no end in sight for this bands ever growing popularity. The band now performed on the Rockstage and it seems that even this stage is not big enough for the Panthers. The place was entirely packed when the band opened the show with “Supersonic Sex Machine” and “Tomorrow Night”. Nowadays classics “Fat Girl”, “Asian Hooker” and “Death to All But Metal” made people shout noisily a long and there was a true party feeling on the air during the whole set. Steel Panther were now as good as ever but at times it did feel that this was something what’s been seen and heard many times before. The same songs, mostly the same jokes and “stage elements” were present. Perhaps it would be a good idea for me to have a little break before the next Panther show because otherwise the band will start to taste like a wood for sure?

Supersonic Sex Machine

Tomorrow Night

Fat Girl (Thar She Blows)

Asian Hooker

Just Like Tiger Woods

Gold-Digging Whore

Turn Out the Lights

Community Property

Eyes of a Panther

Girl From Oklahoma

Party All Day (Fuck All Night)

It Won’t Suck Itself

Eatin’ Ain’t Cheatin’

17 Girls in a Row

Death to All but Metal

SEPULTURA

Sepultura keeps on going with the current line-up even though fans are outspoken and eager to see the return of the classic line-up. However, Sepultura fronted by Derrick Green did a killer gig by playing a wide range of songs from several Sepultura albums at Swedenrock. The Brazilian thrash four piece appeared to be in a good mood on stage. The current drummer Eloy Casagrande is an extremely skilled drummer with sharp and tight playing. Paolo Jr has grayed a lot and his appearance is not unlike some sixty year old man. Kisser still has fire and passion left in his playing. Derrick Green is a real monstrous relentless frontman encouraging the audience go beserk. Although the band works well on stage, it does feels that it is kind of cover band.

Dark Wood of Error

Refuse/Resist

Kairos

Relentless

Dead Embryonic Cells

Convicted in Life

Dialog

Attitude

What I Do!

Choke

Mask

Septic Schizo / Escape to the Void

Sepulnation

Subtraction

Territory

Inner Self

Polícia(Titãs cover)

Arise

Ratamahatta

Roots Bloody Roots

SEBASTIAN BACH

Sebastian returns to Swedenrock! This gig was supposed to happen a few years back but Bach then missed his flight and couldn’t get to the festival site on time for the gig. A few years later and he still has the same band and a new record out, KICKING & SCREAMING. The set consists of many Skid Row tunes mixed with solo stuff, almost 50/50. Sebastian did prove that he still is an A-class frontman. However, sadly, there’s a feeling that’s something missing during many of the Skid Row songs… For the encores Dee Snider is once again guesting, and it’s a perfect fit!

Slave to the Grind

Kicking & Screaming

Dirty Power

Here I Am

Big Guns

(Love Is) A Bitchslap

Stuck Inside

Piece of Me

18 and Life

American Metalhead

As Long as I Got the Music

Monkey Business

My Own Worst Enemy

I’m Alive

I Remember You

Tunnelvision

We’re Not Gonna Take It

Youth Gone Wild

DIMMU BORGIR

Has the success of Dimmu Borgir decreased during the past few years in Sweden? Or, why did the band play on the third stage? A few years back the Norwegian symphonic black metallers shred the second stage. Well, it is hard to say, but at least Dimmu Borgir pulled a horror godly sounding show in the darkening Swedish landscape. The band sounded majestic, pompous, and looked like a one kind of freaky monstrous group under the massive lightshow after the sunset. The set was basically traditional Dimmu Borgir including songs such as “Mourning Palace”, “A Succubus in Rapture”, “The Serpentine Offering”, and “Progenies of the Great Apocalypse”. The audience seemed to enjoy the show from their heart.

SOUNDGARDEN

Soundgarden comeback gig and debut at Swedenrock. There were many of those this year, and thankfully so. For starters one has to appreciate the lights, look, and atmosphere of the Soundgarden stage – perfectly suiting their sometimes moody and depressive, occasionally still and sometimes raw music…Soundgarden taking their time with the reunion and with baby steps slowly building seems to pay off – the band now being in good form, especially frontman Chris Cornell. Almost all their biggest songs were heard, including their new one ‘Live to Rise’. A new album will be released this coming fall. Soundgarden had a good reception although the band style (the dreaded grunge) isn’t what everybody expected from a Swedenrock headliner.

Searching With My Good Eye Closed

Spoonman

Let Me Drown

Outshined

Flower

Drawing Flies

Hunted Down

Blow Up the Outside World

Fell on Black Days

Ugly Truth

Loud Love

Live to Rise

My Wave

Burden in My Hand

Rusty Cage

Gun

Black Hole Sun

Room a Thousand Years Wide

Jesus Christ Pose

Beyond the Wheel

Slaves & Bulldozers

DARK FUNERAL

Besides Dimmu Borgir, Dark Funeral presented more of the black metal assault at Swedenrock. In wake of the eerie sounding intro, the blackened metal warriors strut like penguins in the line onto the stage. Although the band looked grim with the panda make-up, but soundwise Dark Funeral sounded extremely horrible. For some reason the sounds were entirely muddy, hearing the vocals or guitars turned out to be quite painful. However, the pyros and the stage set up looked grim. Song by song the sounds improved a bit to have the decent quality. As for the current singer Nachtgarm, his manners were meant to look evil, but it mostly brought the humoristic aspects. In a way, the former singer, Emperor Magus Galicula, was the real roots of all evil at the stage.